Thermostatic device



June 13, 1933. I J. v. DURNIN 1,913,920

THERMOSTATIC DEVICE Filed Aug. 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l gwumkom I JOSEPH V. DURNIN June 13, 1933. J. v. DURNIN I THERMOSTATIG DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 28, 1931 JOSEPH V. DURNliT $5; O7

Patented June 13, 1933 UN E JOSEPH v. DURNIN, F ALLEINTOW'N, E NsrLVANIA' 5 I V 'mamo mm' DEVICE:

' Application fled-"August 28, 1931. Serial 559,966.

invention relates to a thermostatic device for actuating a movable element."

Y-The invention is welladapted to be "used inconnection with agas burner for automatically cutting off" the fiOW' Ofgas when the flame fisextinguished, while not neces-" Figure 5 is an edge elevation of=a modified.

formof thermostatic deviceembodying th invention,

to Figure 5, parts-being shown in vertical section.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose 7' of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates a gas burner element, preferably of the annular type, having a central passagefill; Thenumeral 1 2 designates a pilot light; The numeral 13 designatesia gas supply pipe line,

having a branch pipe 14 connected therein,

equipped with the usual'm anually operated cut-off valve '15.. The'outlet end of th1s branch pipe discharges into the air mixing inlet 16 of'the burner, whichis in communication-with the interior of the burner element 10,'as is customary- A valve casing 17 "is.

connected in the branchpipel l, and embodies a valve seat 18, to be engaged and disengaged by a downwardly seatingvalve 'element 19, connected with avalve stem 20.

The numeral 21 designates a generally U-shaped tubular element included in 'the thermostatic device, and thistubular elementembodies a short arm 22, verticallyarranged, and cylindrical throughout the ma'jor portion of its length. The tubular elementembodies a long vertical arm 23, which is preferably circular in cross-section andtapers downwardly, providing a reduced portion 24, in communication with the lowerend of the short arm'22. Thelong arm 23 is'pref Figure 6 1s an elevation at a right angle;

erably provided withv corrugations orv 'fins' 25-, for effecting proper heat transfer. -The long arm extends through the centralpassa'gei l1, and preferably projects a slight distance above the burner'element lO. Thevalv'e casing 17 is provided with a depending boss or plug 26, exteriorly' threaded for engagement with the upper threaded end of the short arm 22, as shown. Th'e'arm 22 is provided with- V a plurality ofvent'openi'ngs' or'ports27, for' placing the interior of the arm 22in com-" munication with the atmosphere. These ports are arranged immediately beneath the I plug 26, as shown.

The valve stem 201s freely 'slidably mounted'jan'd projects downwardlyinto a recess 28, formed in the plug 26. Packing-29km -round's the valve stem-within the recess-, to

prevent leakage of gas, and a washer 30, such rounds the lower end of the valve stem, and engages a plunger 32, having screw-threaded engagement upon the lower end; of the valve stem, and, accordingly, longitudinally" a'd-' justable thereon. The valve "element 19fhas'a as a copper washer, is arranged beneaththe packing. A compressible coil spring131-sur-" groove 33 formedin' its top,for-receiving the f end ofa suitable tool for turning the same, access-being had-to the valve element by re 34 may be removed, and the valve element 10 turned to grind the same upon its seat,-'or'- it may be rotated to longitudinally adjust moving a plug 34, By thi's'means, the plug the plunger 32 upon the valve stem. Further Arranged within the short arm 22 is afloat justed that the valve elernent will open and 7 close at aselected temperature.

adjustment may also be; efiected' byjturning the valve casing 17 'uponthe short-arm 22.

' Bythis nieans,-the elements may be'soqad- 35, preferably formed of acopper' shell, a1;

though thesame maybe formed of cork, orf any other material that will float: This'float". element has a loose fit'within the tubular arm 22, fora purpose who described. The tubu- 'lar element has its long arm; 23} filled with mercury 36, or any other liquid having a high thermal expansion,and asmallquantity of enclosed air. between the inner topoftube 23 and the high thermal liquid. This liquid-" mercury 36 within the short arm 22. This atmospheric pressure upon the surface of the mercury within the "short arm serves to "re tain the mercury and the enclosed air within the top of the long arm 21. cury become unduly heated by accidental cause, or the like, and thereby unduly expand or vaporize, the pressure is relieved by such mercury passing the float 85, then shifted to the uppermost position, and thence escaping through the ports 27-. a

In Figures and 6, 1 have shown a slight modification of the invention. Tl1e lo11garm 21 is. shown adiustably connected with the short arm 22, through the medium of a coupling 22, whichpermitsof the long arm 21 being angularly adjustedor swung to an inclined position withrelation to the horizontal, asshown in dotted lines, Figure 5. When the 7 arm 21 isinclined fromthevertical, the mercury and enclosed air uponbeing heated, functions slower toraise the float 35,.than it doeswhen the arm 21 is vertical, in the upper pesi om I When it is desired to light the burner element, the valve 15 is opened, while valve element is closed, due to the action of the spring 30; The pilot light 12is now actuated toproject a flame upon the top of the long arm 21. This flame heats the enclosed air and mercury within this arm, which immediately expands, raising the float 35 which,

in turn, engages the plunger 32, thereby opening valve element 19-. The gas will now pass 1 to the burner element 10, and this gas is ignitedin the usual manner, by the flame from the pilot light. The enclosed air and mercury within the arm is maintained suitably heat-g ed andexpanded, by radiating heat from the burner element 10, whereby the float 35 is thereby automatically causing the valve element 19 to close and cut off the flow of gas from the burner element. Actual tests which I have made show that the valve element may be rapidly opened by projecting the flame.

upon the top or upper portion of the arm 21,

which this action decreases in rapidity if the flame is applied to the lower portion of the arm 21. Also the action is morerap-id when the long arm 21 is in a vertical position. I Of course, theinvention is, in no sense, restricted Should the mer-' 1 he operation of the apparatus is fol-,

to arranging the arms 20 and 21 in a vertical position.

The mercury readily expands upon being heated, but the enclosed or entrapped air has a greater coefficient of expansion. The mercury not only serves as an expanding element but also as means to provide aliquidseal to prevent the escape of the expanding air. The mercury also has a high specific gravity whereby it will raise the float more eflectually,

and will-also cause the: float. to properly unseat the valve element.

I have found that as the long arm of the tubular element is inclined toward the hori- 'Zontal, that the action is slower, and a higher length of time for the reverse movementof the float, due to the increased length of time required for the enclosed air and mercury to cool, which must be heated to; a higher tem perature. I, therefore, contemplate regulating thedegree of heat atwhich the device will function by angularlyadjusting the long.

arm of the tubular element from the vertical. The device cannot beproperly used in connection with the particular type of burner shown when angularly adjusted, but may be used for various other Figures 5 and 6. v I

. The invention ,is, in no sense, restricted for use in connection with the burner element, as it may be used for any purpose where it'is desired to employthermojstaticmeans for operating a movable element. be used to open or close a valve, or to actuate any other means.

It is to be understood that. invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred example of the same, but thatvarious changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of parts, with-- out departing from the spirit of the inven-' tion or the scope of the subjoined claims.

-.Having' thus described my invention, what.

I claim is 1. A thermostatic device comprising a generally .U-shaped tubular elementincluding an arm closed to the atmosphere and an; arm open to the atmosphere each arm being,- rigid throughout its length, a high thermal expansion fluid held within saidarms, a

float'loosely mountedwithinthe open arm so that atmospheric pressure may act upon Y thefluid held. within said arms, means actu-' ated by the float, and a swivel joint capable of being turnedto a desired position and retained-therein 'connectingthe lowerends ofthe arm so thatone may be angularly adjusted with relation to the other.

2. The combinationwitha burner having a passage, of a generally-U-shaped tube ineluding arms, one arm being" closed at its free end and; extend ng into the passage, the

purpose," as shown in The device may;

the form my l co-acting arm being provided near its free end with an aperture leading to the atmosphere, means for'supplying gas to the burner including a valve embodying a valve casing and valve element, the valve casing being mounted upon the free end of the coacting arm in a manner to leave the aperture uncovered, a float arranged within the co-actin-g arm to actuate thevalve element, and a high thermal expansion fluid arranged within the generally U-shaped tube.

3. The combination with a valve embodying a valve case and valve element, of a thermostatic device for co-action therewith, comprising a generally U-shaped tube including arms, one arm being closed at its free end and the co-acting arm being open at its free end and provided with an aperture at a point near and spaced from such free end, a plug secured to the valve case and extending into the free end of the coacting arm and having screw-threaded engagement therein so thata relative longitudinal adjustment may be effected between the valve case and co-acting arm, a float arranged Within the coacting arm to actuate the valve element, and a high thermal expansion fluid arranged Within the gener' ally U-shaped tube.

static device for co-action with the valve, comprising a generally U-shaped tube including arms, one arm being closed at its free end and a co-acting arm, the free end adjustably mounted upon the attaching part, said co-acting arm having a port associated therewith which leads to the atmosphere, a

high thermal expansion fluid arranged within the generally U-shaped tube, and a float I loosely mounted within the coacting arm to actuate the valve element. 7 c

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

JosEPn v. DURNIN.

4. The combination with a valve embody- 7 ing a valve case and valve element, said valve case having an attaching part, of a thermostatic device for coaction with the valve, comprising a generally U-shaped tube including arms, one arm being closed at its free end and a co-a'cting'arm being open at its free end and provided with an aperture at a point near and spaced from such free end, the free end of the co-acting arm being longitudinally adjustably mounted upon the attaching part, a float arranged within the co-acting arm to actuate the valve element,- and a high thermal expansion fluid arranged within the generally U-shaped' tube.

5. The combination with a valve embodying a valve case and valve element including a stem, said valve case having an attaching part, a plunger longitudinally adjusta-v bly mounted upon the stem and projecting beyond said attaching part, a U-shaped tube embodying arms, one arm'being closed at its free end, the co-acting arm having connection with the attaching part and provided 7 with an aperture beneath the attaching part,

case having an attaching part, of a thermoof the co-acting arm being longitudinally. I 

